HARARE – A senior magistrate at Murewa Magistrates’ Court has been forced to exchange his high chair for the dock after he was busted by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for allegedly receiving groceries and a stove as bribery for fixing trial in a suspect’s favour.
Terence Mashaire, 44, was charged with bribery after he presided over a case involving one Allen Bhaswi who would later gift him with groceries, stationery, and a Defy Microwave as token of appreciation in September 2023.
“It is the state’s case that the accused person’s interactions with Allen Bhaswi extended to a point where they would call each other before and after court sessions.
“When the matter was concluded in December 2023, the court ruled in favour of Allen Bhaswi,” read a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Mashaire allegedly received a Solo Defy Microwave from Allen Bhaswi as a token of appreciation after the completion of the case.
He also allegedly received groceries as well as stationery from Bhaswi.
Officers later recovered the stove from Mashaire’s home.
“When the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) appealed the magistrate’s judgement in the Allen Bhaswi case, the accused person continued to advise him on how to proceed with the matter at the High Court.
“He then received USD450 through Ecocash from Allen Bhaswi,” reads court papers.
Mashaire has been remanded in custody and will appear in court on 4 March 2024 for bail ruling.
